Synchronizer for sugarcane knockdown roller

ABSTRACT

A sugarcane harvester comprises a frame, a basecutter coupled to the frame for translation relative to the frame, a knockdown roller mounted for translation relative to the frame, and a synchronizer configured to translate the knockdown roller in unison with the basecutter so as to maintain a position of the knockdown roller relative to the basecutter upon translation of the basecutter relative to the frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/387,899,filed 22 Dec. 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a sugarcane harvester, and, moreparticularly, to a position of a knockdown roller of a sugarcaneharvester.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

A sugarcane harvester comprises a basecutter, an upper knockdown roller,and a lower knockdown roller. The knockdown rollers are configured tolean sugarcane over enough to expose the base of the stalk to thebasecutter. The basecutter is configured to sever the sugarcane stalk atthe base thereof near the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a sugarcane harvestercomprises a frame, a basecutter coupled to the frame for translationrelative to the frame, a knockdown roller mounted for translationrelative to the frame, and a synchronizer configured to translate theknockdown roller in unison with the basecutter so as to maintain aposition of the knockdown roller relative to the basecutter upontranslation of the basecutter relative to the frame.

The above and other features will become apparent from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanyingfigures in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view showing a sugarcane harvester whichcomprises an inlet section configured to sever a row of sugarcane, afeed section configured to receive from the inlet section a mat ofsugarcane, and a chopping section configured to cut the mat receivedfrom the feed section into billets;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inlet section of the sugarcaneharvester, with portions broken away (including, for example, a shieldfor a basecutter motor);

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pivoter to pivot a basecutterrelative to a frame (e.g., main frame);

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view showing an upper knockdown rollermounted to a telescopic roller support;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partially exploded view showing shims andpositioner bolts to position a support arm of the roller support withina sleeve of the roller support;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2 through arotary member (with a link kept in solid), with portions broken away,showing a synchronizer to maintain a position of the upper knockdownroller relative to the basecutter; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken in a direction A of FIG. 6 showing a synchronizerlink included, for example, in the synchronizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 1, a sugarcane harvester 20 is configured to harvest arow of sugarcane. The harvester 20 is configured to process theharvested sugarcane into billets.

The harvester 20 comprises an inlet section 22 for the row. The inletsection 22 comprises two crop divider scroll (not shown), one on eachside of the inlet section 22. The scrolls are configured to liftsugarcane stalks before being severed. The harvester 20 may alsocomprise a separator scroll (not shown) on one or both sides of theinlet section 22 laterally outward from the respective crop dividerscroll, such separator scroll being configured to separate an adjacentrow of uncut sugarcane from the respective row to be cut.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the inlet section 22 comprises a set 24 ofknockdown rollers and a basecutter 26. The set 24 comprises an upperknockdown roller 28 and a lower knockdown roller 30. The knockdownrollers 28, 30 are positioned ahead of the basecutter 26 and configuredto lean the sugarcane over enough to expose the base of the stalk to thebasecutter 26. Each basecutter 26 comprises a pair of counter-rotatingcutting disks driven by a motor (e.g., hydraulic motor shown, forexample, in FIG. 2) and comprising knives spaced about their periphery.The cutting disks cooperate with one another to sever the sugarcanestalk at the base thereof near the ground. The harvester 20 may comprisea topper (not shown) for the row to cut off leafy material from thesugarcane before engagement with the knockdown roller set 24.

The harvester 20 comprises a feed section 32, a chopping section 34, aprimary extractor (the frame of which is shown), an elevator (notshown), and, in some embodiments, a secondary extractor (not shown). Thefeed section 32 is configured to receive from the basecutter 14 a mat ofsevered sugarcane and to feed the mat rearwardly. The chopping section34 is configured to receive the mat from the feed section 32 and cut thesugarcane stalk into billets. The primary extractor is positioneddownstream from the chopping section 34 and is configured to separatecrop residue (e.g., leafy material) from the billets and remove thatcrop residue from the harvester 20. The elevator is positioned at therear of the harvester 20 to receive the cleaned flow of billets and isconfigured to convey the billets to an elevated position where they aredischarged into a wagon to be hauled away. The secondary extractor (ifpresent) is positioned near the top of the elevator and is configured toseparate further crop residue from the billets and remove the cropresidue from the harvester 20.

The harvester 20 comprises an operator's station 36 (FIG. 10) andtraction elements (not shown). A human operator can operate theharvester 20 from the operator's station 36. The traction elements arepositioned on opposite sides of the harvester 20 for engaging the groundand propelling the harvester 20. Each traction element may be, forexample, a track unit or a ground-engaging wheel (e.g., one track uniton each side of the left and right sides of the harvester 20).

Referring to FIG. 1, the feed section 32 comprises a feed train 38 and afeed train 42. The feed train 38 is configured to advance a mat ofsugarcane received from the row of sugarcane in a feed direction towardthe feed train 42. The basecutter 26 is configured to sever the mat, andthe feed train 38 is configured to receive the severed mat from thebasecutter 26 into a mouth of the feed train 38 such that the basecutter26 is positioned between the set 24 of knockdown rollers and the mouthof the feed train 38.

The harvester 20 comprises a frame 44 and a frame 47. The frame 44 is,for example, the main frame of the harvester 20. The frame 47 is coupledpivotally to the frame 44 for pivotal movement about a pivot axis 50 inresponse to operation of an actuator 86 (discussed in more detailherein).

The frame 47 comprises a frame inlet portion 52 included in the inletsection 22 and a frame feed portion 54 included in the feed train 38.Mounted to the frame inlet portion 52 are the basecutter 26 and thelower knockdown roller 30. The basecutter 26 and the lower knockdownroller 30 are mounted to (e.g., bolted) and between a first side wall 56of the frame inlet portion 52 and a second side wall 58 of the frameinlet portion 52. The basecutter 26 and the lower knockdown roller 30are mounted to the frame inlet portion 52 in that their axes of rotationare stationary relative thereto.

The frame inlet portion 52 is coupled to the frame feed portion 54. Thefirst and second side walls 56, 58 are fixed (e.g., bolted) to the feedportion 54. The frame feed portion 54 is coupled pivotally to the frame44 for pivotal movement about the pivot axis 50 in response to operationof the actuator 86.

The feed section 32 comprises feed rollers 68 driven to advance thesugarcane to the chopping section 34. The feed rollers 68 in each feedtrain 38, 42 are arranged in an upper rank 70 of feed rollers 68 and alower rank 72 of feed rollers 68. Each feed roller 68 has an axis ofrotation about which the feed roller 68 is rotatable. Each feed roller68 is driven to rotate about its axis of rotation by a respective motor,which is a hydraulic motor, although in other embodiments it could takethe form of, for example, an electric motor or other suitable drivedevice. Each feed roller 68 of the feed trains 38, 42 is mounted to therespective frame 44, 47. With respect to the feed train 38, the firstthree feed rollers 68 of each of the upper rank 70 and the lower rank 72(starting from the front near the basecutter 26) are mounted to theframe 47 so as to pivot therewith about the pivot axis 50, and thefourth feed rollers 68 of each of the upper rank 70 and the lower rank72 (i.e., the feed rollers 68 closest to the feed train 42) are mountedto the frame 44 so as not to pivot about the pivot axis 50. With respectto the feed train 42, the feed rollers 68 of the upper rank 70 and thelower rank 72 are mounted to the frame 44 so as not to pivot about thepivot axis 50.

Referring to FIG. 2, the basecutter 26 is coupled to the frame 44 fortranslation relative to the frame 44. As alluded to herein, thebasecutter 26 is illustratively coupled to the frame 44 for pivotalmovement about the pivot axis 50. The basecutter 26 is mounted to theframe 47 (e.g., bolted) such that the axes of rotation of the cuttingdisks of the basecutter 26 are stationary relative to the frame 47 so asto be pivotable or otherwise translatable relative to the frame 44 aboutthe pivot axis 50.

Referring to FIG. 3, the inlet section 22 comprises a pivoter 82 coupledto the frame 44 and the basecutter 26 to pivot the basecutter 26relative to the frame 44 about the pivot axis 50. The pivoter 82comprises a rotary member 84, an actuator 86, a first side link 88, anda second side link 88. The rotary member 84 is coupled rotatably to theframe 44 for rotation relative to the frame 44 about an axis of rotation90. The rotary member 84 comprises a rotatable shaft (e.g., a tube) anda number of mounting ears fixed to and extending radially from theshaft. The shaft defines the axis 90, and comprises opposite endportions mounted to the frame 44 via respective journal bearingscomprising a first journal bearing mounted to a first portion of theframe 44 and a second journal bearing mounted to a second portion of theframe 44.

The actuator 86 is operably coupled to the rotary member 84 to rotatethe rotary member 84 about its axis of rotation 90, and, in so doing, topivot the basecutter 26 relative to the frame 44 about the pivot axis 50to raise or lower the basecutter 26. As such, the actuator 86 isoperably coupled to the basecutter 26, and the rotary member 84 iscoupled to the basecutter 26.

The actuator 86 is coupled pivotally to the frame 44 and the rotarymember 84. The actuator 86 is coupled pivotally to an upper portion ofthe frame 44. The mounting ears of the rotary member 84 comprise a firstmounting ear and a second mounting ear, the first and second mountingears positioned near a first end portion of the shaft. The actuator 86is coupled pivotally (e.g., pinned) to the first and second mountingears. The actuator 86 is configured, for example, as a linear actuator(e.g., hydraulic cylinder).

The first and second side links 88 interconnect the rotary member 84 andthe frame 47. The first side link 88 is coupled pivotally to the rotarymember 84 and the first side wall 56 of the frame 47. The first sidelink 88 is coupled pivotally to the first mounting ear of the rotarymember 84 (e.g., pinned to the first mounting ear), which projectsradially farther than the second mounting ear relative to the axis 90for mounting of the link 88 to the first mounting ear. The second sidelink 88 is coupled pivotally to the rotary member 84 and the second sidewall 58 of the frame 47. The second side link 88 is coupled pivotally(e.g., pinned) to a third mounting ear of the mounting ears of therotary member 84, the third mounting ear positioned near a second endportion of the shaft opposite to the first end portion thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the basecutter 26 may be raised or loweredto accommodate row profile variation. Row profile (lateral cross-sectionperpendicular to row longitudinal axis) may vary within a row or betweenrows, as much as, for example, about eight inches (about 26 centimeters)between furrow bottom and row top although two inches (about 5centimeters) may be more normal. A human operator may command operationof the actuator 86 to adjust the height of the basecutter 26 via, forexample, an operator input device at the operator's station 36. In otherembodiments, the actuator 86 may be commanded to operate automaticallyin response to one or more input signals. The basecutter pivots relativeto the frame 44 about the pivot axis 50, or otherwise translatesrelative to the frame 44. The basecutter 26 may thus be raised orlowered in order to sever the sugarcane at its base.

The actuator 86 is operable to raise and lower the basecutter 26.Extension of the actuator 86 pivots the rotary member 84 relative to theframe 44 about the axis of rotation 90 so as to cause the frame 47 alongwith the basecutter 26, the lower knockdown roller 30, and the feedrollers 68 mounted to the frame 47 to pivot in translation relative tothe frame 44 about the pivot axis 50 in a lowering direction. Retractionof the actuator 86 pivots the rotary member 84 relative to the frame 44about the axis of rotation 90 in an opposite direction so as to causethe frame 47 along with the basecutter 26, the lower knockdown roller30, and the feed rollers 68 mounted to the frame 47 to pivot intranslation relative to the frame 44 about the pivot axis 50 in araising direction.

The harvester 20 comprises sway blocks mounted to the frame 44 to blocklateral movement of the frame 47 during pivoting about the axis 50. Thesway blocks comprise a sway block fixed to the first portion of theframe 44 in the inlet region of the frame 44 and a sway block fixed tothe second portion of the frame 44 in the inlet region of the frame 44.Each sway block is fixed (e.g., bolted) to the respective portion of theframe 44 with a metal plate positioned therebetween against the swayblock and the frame portion. Each sway block may be made, for example,of nylon plastic (e.g., nylon 6) which is self-lubricating and has highwear resistance (e.g., available as NYLATRON®).

Referring to FIG. 4, the aggressiveness of the upper knockdown roller 28with respect to the sugarcane in the row 12 is adjustable. For example,if the sugarcane is standing, an operator may wish to raise the upperknockdown roller 28 to decrease its aggressiveness so as not to breakthe sugarcane with the upper knockdown roller 28. If the sugarcane isleaning or lying down, the operator may wish to lower the upperknockdown roller 28 to increase its aggressiveness. The operator maychange the aggressiveness of the upper knockdown roller 28 via anoperator input device (e.g., momentary toggle switch biased to neutral)at the operator's station 36.

The inlet section 22 comprises a telescopic roller support 92 mounted tothe frame 44. The upper knockdown roller 28 is mounted to the rollersupport 92 of the inlet section 22. The roller support 92 is configuredto telescope to cause linear movement of the upper knockdown roller 28relative to the frame 44 and the basecutter 26. As such, the upperknockdown roller 28 is mounted for translation relative to the frame 44and the basecutter 26, and such translation is independent oftranslation of the basecutter 26 relative to the frame 44. Thetelescopic design promotes operator visibility of crop engagement by theupper knockdown roller 28, as indicated by a line of sight 94.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the roller support 92 comprises a firsttelescopic member 96 and a second telescopic member 98. The secondtelescopic member 98 is positioned in telescopic relation with the firsttelescopic member 96. The upper knockdown roller 28 is mounted to an endportion 100 of the second telescopic member 98. The first telescopicmember 96 comprises a sleeve 102 mounted to the frame 44, and the secondtelescopic member 98 comprises a support arm 104 received by the sleeve102 in telescopic relation thereto.

The support arm 104 is positioned for linear movement within the sleeve102. The sleeve 102 comprises a first aperture 106 at a first endportion of the sleeve 102 and a second aperture 106 at an oppositesecond end portion of the sleeve 12, and the support arm 104 ispositioned within the first aperture 106 and the second aperture 106 formovement therein.

The support arm 104 fits within the sleeve 102. Illustratively, each ofthe sleeve 102 and the support arm 104 comprises a box sectionconfiguration, with the box section configuration of the support arm 104fitting within the box section configuration of the sleeve 102.

The sleeve 102 comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall,and a second side wall. Each of the top and bottom walls comprises anumber tabs (e.g., three) extending laterally from each of its two sideedges, and each tab extends into and is fixed (e.g., welded) to acorresponding slot in the respective side wall of the sleeve 102. Eachof the middle tabs of the top wall extends through and is fixed (e.g.,welded) to a slot in the corresponding side wall to close an upperportion of a respective hand 116 of a pivot arm 112. Each of the middletabs of the bottom wall extends through and is fixed (e.g., welded) to aslot in the corresponding side wall and necks down to a secondary tabwhich extends into and is fixed (e.g., welded) to a slot of an outerwall of the respective hand 116. The first and second side walls extendinto and form part of the pivot arm 112.

The support arm 104 comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, a first sidewall, and a second side wall. Each of the first and second side wallscomprises a number of tabs along its upper and lower edges, and each tabextends into and is fixed (e.g., welded) to a corresponding slot in therespective top or bottom wall of the support arm 104.

Referring to FIG. 5, the roller support 92 comprises a number ofpositioner bolts 118 and a number of shims 120. The positioner bolts118, configured similar to one another, cooperate to position thesupport arm 104 within the sleeve 102. The positioner bolts 118 extendthrough a respective wall of the sleeve 102 so as to extend a distanceinto the interior region of the sleeve 102. The shims 120, configuredsimilar to one another, help to determine that distance. Each positionerbolt 118 comprises a conical head positioned in the interior region ofthe sleeve 102 and a square neck positioned along the shank of the boltbetween the conical head and the threads. The square neck is positionedin and mates with a corresponding square aperture in the respective wallof the sleeve 102. One or more shims 120 are positioned between theconical head and the respective wall through which the positioner bolt118 extends in order to position an end surface of the conical head inthe interior region for contact with the support arm 104 to position thesupport arm 104 in the sleeve 102. There are, for example, two shimmounting locations along each of the top, bottom, and first and secondside walls of the sleeve 102. Each shim mounting location may have oneor more shims 120. Each shim 120 comprises two parallel blind slots. Twopositioner bolts 118 are positioned in each blind slot, for a total of,for example, four positioner bolts 118 associated with each shimmounting location.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper knockdown roller 28 is mounted tothe support arm 104. The support arm 104 comprises a yoke at an endportion of the support arm 104. A housing of the upper knockdown roller28 is fixed (e.g., welded) to the yoke. The motor body of a first motor(e.g., hydraulic motor) (not shown) and the motor body of a second motor(e.g., hydraulic motor) (not shown) are positioned within and mounted(e.g., bolted) to the housing. The first motor rotates a first side ofthe upper knockdown roller 28, and the second motor rotates a secondside of the upper knockdown roller 28. The first and second motors arefluidly coupled to one another (e.g., coupled in series). A number ofhoses (e.g., hydraulic hoses) associated with the first and secondmotors extend into and within the support arm 104.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, the harvester 20 comprises an actuator107 (shown generally diagrammatically). The actuator 107 is configuredto cause telescopic movement of the roller support 92. The actuator 107is coupled to the sleeve 102 and the support arm 104. For example, theactuator 107 is coupled to an ear of the sleeve 102 and an ear of thesupport arm 104 (e.g., pinned to each ear as shown generallydiagrammatically). The actuator 107 is configured, for example, as ahydraulic cylinder.

The roller support 92 is configured to promote operator visibility ofcrop engagement by the upper knockdown roller 28 from the operator'sstation 36. The roller support 92 is positioned largely rearwardly ofthe upper knockdown roller 28, promoting the operator's angle of visionto crop engagement.

Referring to FIG. 6, the inlet section 22 comprises a synchronizer 108configured to translate the upper knockdown roller 28 in unison with thebasecutter 26 so as to maintain a position of the upper knockdown roller28 relative to the basecutter 26 upon translation of the basecutter 26relative to the frame 44. As the basecutter height is adjusted relativeto the frame 44, the synchronizer 108 maintains the upper knockdownroller 28 in the same position relative to the basecutter 26 throughoutthe range of motion of the basecutter 26. The axis of rotation of theupper knockdown roller 28 stays in the same position relative to theaxes of rotation of the basecutter 26 (i.e., the axes of rotation of thetwo cutting disks of the basecutter 26). The synchronizer 108 may beconfigured to so maintain the position of the upper knockdown roller 28relative to the basecutter 26 mechanically, electrically, hydraulically,or a combination of one or more of these.

In the illustrated example, the synchronizer 108 is coupled to the frame44 and the pivoter 82 to pivot the upper knockdown roller 28 relative tothe frame 44 about a pivot axis 110 in response to operation of thepivoter 82. The synchronizer 108 supports the upper knockdown roller 28.The synchronizer 108 comprises, for example, a pivot arm 112 and asynchronizer link 114. The pivot arm 112 is coupled pivotally to theframe 44 to pivot relative to the frame 44 about the pivot axis 110. Thepivot arm 112 supports the upper knockdown roller 28 to pivot with thepivot arm 112 relative to the frame 44 about the pivot axis 110. Theupper knockdown roller 28 is mounted to the frame 44 via the pivot arm112 and the roller support 92, and, as such, is an example in which theupper knockdown roller 28 is mounted for translation relative to theframe 44.

The roller support 92 is mounted to the pivot arm 112. The sleeve 102 isfixed to the pivot arm 112. The pivot arm 112 comprises a first hand 116and a second hand 116. The sleeve 102 is positioned between the firsthand 116 and the second hand 116. The sleeve 102 is fixed to (e.g.,welded) and held by the first and second hands 116.

Referring to FIG. 7, the synchronizer link 114 is coupled pivotally tothe rotary member 84 and the pivot arm 112. The synchronizer link 114 ispositioned axially between the first side link 88 and the second sidelink 88 relative to the axis of rotation 90. The link 114 is coupledpivotally (e.g., pinned) to a pair of mounting ears of the rotary member84 extending radially outwardly from the rotatable shaft of the rotarymember 84, and coupled pivotally (e.g., pinned) to a pair of mountingears of the pivot arm 112.

The synchronizer link 114 pivots the pivot arm 112 and the upperknockdown roller 28 supported thereby about the pivot axis 110 inresponse to rotation of the rotary member 84 about the axis of rotation90 due to operation of the actuator 86 to raise or lower the basecutter26. Extension of the actuator 86 rotates the rotary member 84 about theaxis of rotation 90 to pivot the pivot arm 112 about the pivot axis 110so as to lower the upper knockdown roller 28 with the basecutter 26 tomaintain the position of the upper knockdown roller 28 relative to thebasecutter 26. Retraction of the actuator 86 rotates the rotary member84 in an opposite direction about the axis of rotation 90 to pivot thepivot arm 112 in an opposite direction about the pivot axis 110 so as toraise the upper knockdown roller 28 with the basecutter 26 to maintainthe position of the upper knockdown roller 28 relative to the basecutter26. As such, the actuator 86 is operably coupled to the basecutter 26and the synchronizer 108.

The harvester 20 may be a single row or multi-row sugarcane harvester.In the illustrated embodiment, the harvester 20 is a two-row harvester,comprising two inlet sections 22, one of which is shown. The first inletsection 22 is configured to feed a first mat of severed sugarcane from afirst row into the first feed train 38, and the second inlet section 22is configured to feed a second mat of severed sugarcane from a secondrow into a second feed train (not shown) configured similar to the firstfeed train 38. The first feed train 38 and the second feed train mergeinto the feed train 42, which is configured to advance the first andsecond mats received respectively from the first feed train 38 and thesecond feed train to the chopping section 34. The first feed train 38and the second feed train may be symmetrical relative to a fore-aft axisof the harvester 20, which may be a centerline of the harvester 20 andthe feed section 32. Nonetheless, it is to be understood that each ofthe synchronizer 108 and the telescopic roller support 92 may be usedwith a single or multi-row sugarcane harvester.

It is to be understood that, while the synchronizer 108 is illustratedfor use with the telescopic roller support 92, in other embodiments thesynchronizer 108 may be configured for use with a non-telescopic rollersupport and still provide the synchronizing function between the upperknockdown roller 28 and the basecutter 26.

It is to be understood that the telescopic roller support 92 may beconfigured for use without the synchronizer 108 or other configurationof a synchronizer.

Welds and threads are not shown in the drawings for ease ofillustration, but their presence is to be understood.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description isto be considered as an example and not restrictive in character, itbeing understood that an illustrative embodiment has been shown anddescribed and that all changes and modifications that come within thespirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. It will be notedthat alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not includeall of the features described yet still benefit from at least some ofthe advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art mayreadily devise their own implementations that incorporate one or more ofthe features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sugarcane harvester, comprising a frame, abasecutter coupled pivotally to the frame at a first pivot axis, aknockdown roller positioned ahead of the basecutter in a forwarddirection of travel of the sugarcane harvester to deflect sugarcaneforwardly for severance by the basecutter, the knockdown roller coupledpivotally to the frame at a second pivot axis, a pivoter coupled to theframe and the basecutter to pivot the basecutter relative to the frameabout the first pivot axis, and a synchronizer coupled to the knockdownroller and the pivoter to pivot the knockdown roller relative to theframe about the second pivot axis so as to maintain a position of theknockdown roller relative to the basecutter upon pivoting of thebasecutter relative to the frame about the first pivot axis by thepivoter.
 2. The sugarcane harvester of claim 1, wherein the synchronizeris coupled to the frame.
 3. The sugarcane harvester of claim 2, whereinthe synchronizer comprises a pivot arm coupled pivotally to the frame atthe second pivot axis and supporting the knockdown roller.
 4. Thesugarcane harvester of claim 3, wherein the synchronizer comprises asynchronizer link coupled pivotally to the pivot arm and the pivoter. 5.The sugarcane harvester of claim 4, wherein the pivoter comprises arotary member coupled rotatably to the frame for rotation relative tothe frame about an axis of rotation and coupled to the basecutter, andthe synchronizer link is coupled pivotally to the rotary member.
 6. Thesugarcane harvester of claim 1, wherein the pivoter comprises a rotarymember coupled rotatably to the frame for rotation relative to the frameabout an axis of rotation and coupled to the basecutter and an actuatoroperably coupled to the rotary member.
 7. The sugarcane harvester ofclaim 6, comprising another frame coupled pivotally to the frame and towhich the basecutter is mounted, a first side link coupled pivotally tothe rotary member and the other frame, and a second side link coupledpivotally to the rotary member and the other frame.
 8. The sugarcaneharvester of claim 7, wherein the synchronizer comprises a synchronizerlink positioned axially between the first side link and the second sidelink relative to the axis of rotation.
 9. The sugarcane harvester ofclaim 6, wherein the synchronizer comprises a synchronizer link coupledpivotally to the rotary member.